Saddle



F. MESINGER July 5, 1932.

SADDLE Filed Oct. 11, 1950 IN VENTOR Frederz'cZMesz 29 ends of the springs Patented July 5, 1932 FREDERICK MESINGER, F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK SADDLE Application filed October 11,1930. Serial No. 487,955.

This invention relates to saddles, and more particularly to saddles for bicycles, tri-, cycles, and other similar wheeled vehicles.

The invention has for its general object and purpose to provide a novel, simple and comparatively inexpensive means for connecting or attaching the rear cushioning springs to the bottom plate and reachrod of the saddle. r 1 It is a more particular object of the invention to provide cushioning means for saddles of this kind wherein spaced coil springs are provided at opposite ends of a single length of resilient wire, and means for securely attaching the connecting part of the wire extending between said springs to the bottom plate of the saddle.

It is anothenobject of theinvention to pro vide improved means for securing the lower to the rear ends of the reach rod'whereby each of the springs will properly. sustain its proportionate share of the load. I

4 With the above and other objects in View,

the invention consists in the improved saddle and in the form, construction and relative arrangement'of its several parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters, designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing a saddle 'embodying one form of my present improvements;v

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view, and

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the cushioning springs and the reach rod.

In the particular saddle structure selected for purposes of illustration, the base or cantle 1 of the saddle is composed of upper and lower metal plates suitably united with 7) each other and to the edges ofwhich the edges of the flexible saddle top or leather covering for the padding material are secured in any approved manner, As herein shown, I provide the lower cantle plate at its rear end with spaced outwardly struck straps or loops 2 providing convenient means for the attachment of a tool case to the rear end of the saddle.

' There is also secured in the bottom of the saddle plate near the rear end thereof and on its longitudinal center line, a stud or double headed rivet 3, the purpose of which will be presently explained. V

For the purpose of cushioning vertical movement of the saddle top for absorbing shock or jar, I provide thetwo coil springs 5 which are formed from opposite end portions of a single length of resilient wire of proper gauge. vThe intermediate portion of this wire connecting the spring coils 5 at their upper ends is centrally provided with a lateral bend or loop 3 therein extending between the spring coils'and whichis adapted for engagement upon the inner side of the rivet;3 beneath the outer end head thereof and between the same and the bottom plate of the saddle. Each of the springs 5 at its lower end has a part 6 turned inwardly and terminating in the small closely wound coils 4 disposed in co-axially centered relation to the coils or convolutions of the spring 5. The lower end coils 4 of each spring are tightly compressed by means-of a suitable tool around the terminal 7 of one of the angularly ofiset rear end portions of a reach rod. 8. From reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, it .will be observed that the rear end of the reach rod is extended outwardly beneath the lower main coil of the spring 5 and over the inwardly turned part 6 of the spring, the terminal 7 extending downwardly through the coils 4 of the spring end.

The reach rod 8 is preferably formed from a length of relatively heavy steel rodor wire having spaced longitudinally extending portions adaptedtobe attached by any approved means to the upper end of the seat post. These side portions of the reach rod or memher are connected-at their forwardends by a central transverse portion which is engaged through a loop 10 formed upon one end of a bracket plate 9 which is rigidly secured to the forwarder pommel endof the bottom plate of'the saddle by the rivet indicated at 11.

From the above description, it will be apparent that. when the vehicle wheels strike an obstruction or enter a depression in the road surface, the weight of the rider will cause a compression of the springs 5 in the vertical pivotal movement of the saddle relative to the reach rod 8, said springs thereby cushioning and absorbing the shock or jar which would otherwise be transmitted to the body of the rider through the seat; The downward pressure of the compressed springs is largely sustained by the laterally projecting rear end portions of the reach minal portion 7 of the reach rod.

rod so that there is little tendency of the lower terminal coils 4 of the springs to be forced downwardly off of the vertical ter- Therefore, the permanent connection between the springs and the rear ends of the reach rod will'be maintained without the use of nuts, locking pins or other additional elements. Also the means which I provide for attaching these springs to the bottom plate of the saddle, enables the connection to be easily and quickly made and with an assurance of the requisite security, since in making the appli cation it is necessary to stress the connecting part of the wire between the springs 5 inwardly in order to engage the loop or bend 3 thereof with the rivet or stud member Accordingly, there is a constant locking pressure of the loop 3 against the shank of the rivet beneath the lower end head thereof.

In the foregoing description, I have referred to an embodiment of my present invention which has been found very satisfactory and serviceable especially as applied to bicycle and tricycle saddles, and which enables the cushioning means for the saddle seat to'be easily and quickly assembled and attached to the bottom plate of the seat. The several parts thereof are also of very simple form, so that the device as a whole may be produced at comparatively small manufacturing cost. While I have herein disclosed one preferable embodiment of my present improvements, it is nevertheless to be understood that the several parts thereof may also be produced in various other structural forms, and I therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly'embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: v

1-. In a cycle saddle, a seat having a bot tom plate, areach member pivotally connected to the forward end of the bottom plate and having spaced parts terminating at their rear ends in lateral extensions, spaced cushioning springs formed on opposite ends of a single length of resilient Wire, each of said springs being secured at its lower end to one of said laterally extending rear ends of the reach rod,.and means for securing the intermediate part of the wire connecting said springs to the bottom plate of the saddle.

In a cycle saddle, a seat having a bot tom plate, a reach member pivotally connected to the forward end of the bottom plate and having spaced parts terminating at their rear ends in lateral extensions, spaced cushioning springs formed on opposite ends of a single length of resilient wire, each of said springs being secured at its lower end to one of said laterally extending rear ends of the'reach rod, a rivet fixed to the rear end of the bottom plate of the saddle, and the intermediate portion of said Wire extending between the springs having a part thereof engaged by said rivet whereby said springs are secured in attached relation to the bottom plate of the saddle.

3. In a cycle saddle, a seat having a bottom plate, a reach member pivotally connected to the forward end of the bottom plate and having spaced parts terminating at their rear ends in lateral extensions, spaced cushioning springs formed on opposite ends of a single length of resilient wire, each of said springs being secured at its lower end to one of said laterally extending rear ends of the reach rod, a headed rivet secured in the rear end of the bottom plate of the saddle, and the intermediate part of said wire connecting the spaced springs having a laterally offset bend thereof engaging one side of the rivet between the bottom plate of the saddle and the rivet head whereby said springs are secured in attached relation to the saddle plate.

4. In a cycle saddle, a seat havingabottom plate, a reach member pivotally connected to the forward end of the bottom plate and having spaced parts terminating at their rear ends in lateral extensions, spaced cushioning springs formed on opposite ends of a single length of resilient wire, eachrear end of the reach rod terminating in a downwardly extending part, and each of the springs at its lower end having a part inwardly extended beneath the lateral projection of the reach rod and terminating in coils closely clinched upon the downwardly extending terminal of the reach rod, and means for securing the intermediate part of the wire connecting said springs to the bottom plate of the saddle.

5. In a cycle saddle, a seat, a reach member extending longitudinally beneath the seat pivotally connected at its forward end therewith, said member at its rear end having parts spaced transversely beneath and below the seat, cushioning springs respectively secured at their lower ends to one of said spaced parts of the reach member and connecting means between the upper end coils of said springs, and means for securing said spring connecting means in bearing contact with the bottom of the saddle seat.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

FREDERICK MESIN 

